Review of Colonel Ashton L. Kerr, MD, The Cherry Beret: Distant recollections of World War II as remembered by one of the first Canloan officers. Published privately

Martin, Markus C.

English

Wilfrid Laurier University

Canadian Military HistoryVolume 3 | Issue 2 Article 271-23-2012The Cherry Beret by Ashton L. Kerr [Review]Markus C. MartinThis Feature is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian MilitaryHistory by an authorized administrator of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationMartin, Markus C. (1994) "The Cherry Beret by Ashton L. Kerr [Review]," Canadian Military History: Vol. 3: Iss. 2, Article 27.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol3/iss2/27PAINTING THE MAP RED Miller has done such a good job, he has made the wait all the more worthwhile. The South African War has always been an interest of this reviewer, though previously having had to rely largely on British sources. So it is satisfying now to be given a look at the whole story of the over 7,000 Canadians who volunteered to fight in Britain's cause in southern Africa at the turn of the century. Perhaps the lack of major reference works is why our nation's part in the war receives scant attention in history class curriculums. Or, there could be some squeamishness about our country's enthusiastic role in what has been described as Britain's last colonial war. The Anglo-Boer conflict fore-shadowed events of only a few years later, during the 1914-1918 Great War. As in that much larger conflict, the Boer War brought first an enormous surge of patriotism for King and Empire, droves of eager volunteers, followed by a manpower crisis after sobering news of heavy casualties from bullet and 124 disease (270 Canadian soldiers died there). There was the same florid political arguments, regional disagreements, national navel-gazing about the wisdom of Canadian participation, and a quite strong anti-war movement. Thoroughly covering civilian events, Miller's main emphasis is on the war front: the generally valiant combat experiences of our troops, despite having been hastily trained. Battlefield accounts follow individual officers and soldiers in action, including a superb description of the Royal Canadian Regiment's victory at Paardeberg. In addition to detailing famed conventional regiments, Miller also tells of "Howard's Canadian Scouts," a colourful bunch of rough-riding irregulars. The photographs and numerous maps in Carman Miller's extensively-researched book are particularly useful in helping understand the course of Canadian operations during the South African war. Highly recommended. Sidney Allinson Victoria, B.C. * * * * * The Cherry Beret Colonel Ashton L. Kerr, MD. The Cherry Beret: Distant recollections of World War II as remembered by one of the first Canloan officers. published privately, 125 pages. D r. Kerr has written a light 125 page story of how he became a Canloan officer to the British Army, and thereafter what happened to him during the Second World War. In 1941, on the day after finishing his internship, and although he had already been accepted in a neurosurgery residence, Dr. Kerr decided to forgo it all and joined the Canadian army. Soon after, he was on the Volunteer "Q" list of 43 Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps officers on loan to the British, and on his way over to Europe. A hand-drawn map and over 25 black and white photographs are used to enliven and enlighten us about Colonel Kerr's travels. The assignments and duties took him to North Africa and England where he trained. Afterwards, he participated in the invasions of Italy and Southern France and in the liberation of Greece. His final assignment prior to retuming to Canada was in Palestine, where he was involved in the peace keeping. During his stay in Europe, he managed to come in contact with several famous personages such as Evelyn Waugh, Ambassador John Winant and Daphne du Maurier. These meetings areal-ways presented with modesty and Dr. Kerr's characteristic sense of understatement. He concludes this autobiographical sojoum with several brief vignettes of other Canloan medical officers. There are many history books about World War II filled with statistics and analyses of various campaigns. This book has none of that. Rather, it reminded me of a grandfather talking to his grand-children trying to highlight the more humane aspects of being a soldier. Indeed, this is a book with a gentle spirit which should be read by any and all ages. Lt-Colonel Markus C. Martin Commanding Officer 51st Medical Company 1Martin: <em>The Cherry Beret</em> [Review]Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 1994

\u3cem\u3eThe Cherry Beret\u3c/em\u3e by Ashton L. Kerr [Review]

Scholars Commons

Canadian Military History
Volume 3 | Issue 2 Article 27
1-23-2012
The Cherry Beret by Ashton L. Kerr [Review]
Markus C. Martin
This Feature is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military
History by an authorized administrator of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.
Recommended Citation
Martin, Markus C. (1994) "The Cherry Beret by Ashton L. Kerr [Review]," Canadian Military History: Vol. 3: Iss. 2, Article 27.
Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol3/iss2/27
PAINTING THE MAP RED 
Miller has done such a good job, 
he has made the wait all the more 
worthwhile. 
The South African War has 
always been an interest of this 
reviewer, though previously having 
had to rely largely on British 
sources. So it is satisfying now to 
be given a look at the whole story 
of the over 7,000 Canadians who 
volunteered to fight in Britain's 
cause in southern Africa at the 
turn of the century. Perhaps the 
lack of major reference works is 
why our nation's part in the war 
receives scant attention in history 
class curriculums. Or, there could 
be some squeamishness about our 
country's enthusiastic role in what 
has been described as Britain's 
last colonial war. 
The Anglo-Boer conflict fore-
shadowed events of only a few 
years later, during the 1914-1918 
Great War. As in that much larger 
conflict, the Boer War brought 
first an enormous surge of 
patriotism for King and Empire, 
droves of eager volunteers, 
followed by a manpower crisis 
after sobering news of heavy 
casualties from bullet and 
124 
disease (270 Canadian soldiers 
died there). There was the same 
florid political arguments, regional 
disagreements, national navel-
gazing about the wisdom of 
Canadian participation, and a 
quite strong anti-war movement. 
Thoroughly covering civilian 
events, Miller's main emphasis is 
on the war front: the generally 
valiant combat experiences of our 
troops, despite having been hastily 
trained. Battlefield accounts 
follow individual officers and 
soldiers in action, including a 
superb description of the Royal 
Canadian Regiment's victory at 
Paardeberg. In addition to detailing 
famed conventional regiments, 
Miller also tells of "Howard's 
Canadian Scouts," a colourful 
bunch of rough-riding irregulars. 
The photographs and numerous 
maps in Carman Miller's extensively-
researched book are particularly 
useful in helping understand the 
course of Canadian operations 
during the South African war. 
Highly recommended. 
Sidney Allinson 
Victoria, B.C. 
* * * * * 
The Cherry Beret 
Colonel Ashton L. Kerr, MD. The 
Cherry Beret: Distant recollections 
of World War II as remembered by 
one of the first Canloan officers. 
published privately, 125 pages. 
D r. Kerr has written a light 125 page story of how he 
became a Canloan officer to the 
British Army, and thereafter what 
happened to him during the 
Second World War. 
In 1941, on the day after 
finishing his internship, and 
although he had already been 
accepted in a neurosurgery 
residence, Dr. Kerr decided to forgo 
it all and joined the Canadian 
army. Soon after, he was on the 
Volunteer "Q" list of 43 Royal 
Canadian Army Medical Corps 
officers on loan to the British, and 
on his way over to Europe. 
A hand-drawn map and over 
25 black and white photographs 
are used to enliven and enlighten 
us about Colonel Kerr's travels. 
The assignments and duties took 
him to North Africa and England 
where he trained. Afterwards, he 
participated in the invasions of 
Italy and Southern France and in 
the liberation of Greece. His final 
assignment prior to retuming to 
Canada was in Palestine, where 
he was involved in the peace 
keeping. 
During his stay in Europe, he 
managed to come in contact with 
several famous personages such 
as Evelyn Waugh, Ambassador 
John Winant and Daphne du 
Maurier. These meetings areal-
ways presented with modesty and 
Dr. Kerr's characteristic sense of 
understatement. He concludes 
this autobiographical sojoum with 
several brief vignettes of other 
Canloan medical officers. 
There are many history books 
about World War II filled with 
statistics and analyses of various 
campaigns. This book has none 
of that. Rather, it reminded me of 
a grandfather talking to his grand-
children trying to highlight the 
more humane aspects of being a 
soldier. 
Indeed, this is a book with a 
gentle spirit which should be read 
by any and all ages. 
Lt-Colonel Markus C. Martin 
Commanding Officer 
51st Medical Company 
1
Martin: <em>The Cherry Beret</em> [Review]
Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 1994


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\u3cem\u3eThe Cherry Beret\u3c/em\u3e by Ashton L. Kerr [Review]

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